Last weekend saw a pause in National League action for national teams training but the Northants “Knights” Junior Men travelled north to play in a five team Invitational Tournament.
Manchester 67 - 43 Northants “Knights”
Trafford 47 - 65 Northants “Knights”
Northants “Knights” 81 - 57 Birmingham “Bullets”
Holyhead 39 - 79 Northants “Knights”
It was unfortunate for the “Knights” that they had to face the powerful Manchester side first. Manchester are certainly one of the top four Junior Men’s teams in the country and the county did really well to trial by just six points 28-34 at half time. The “Knights” reduced that deficit to just two early in the second half but then went through a period of poor decision making and poor shooting which saw the northern side seize the initiative.
The final score was not a true reflection of the game with Manchester outscoring the “Knights” 17 two over the last four minutes of the game. For the “Knights”, George Adeseko, Richard Bishop, and Adam Hunter all scored eight points.
Next up were Trafford and after a closely fought ten minutes the “Knights” gained the initiative with a 19-six surge which saw them lead by 35 points to 22 at half time. Trafford were finding it increasingly difficult to contain the “Knights” centre Adam Hunter and in the second half he took total control of the game as the County ran out comfortable winners with Hunter contributing an impressive 20 personal points.
In the past the county have enjoyed some titanic struggles with Birmingham “Bullets” but over the past few years the county have tended to dominate and so it proved on Saturday. The “Bullets” were in contention for most of the first half but trailing 29-26 were undone by a 14-four charge from the “Knights” which gave them the lead 43-30 at half time.
The result was never in doubt throughout the second half and with Robert Gerrard top scoring with 18 points well supported by Adam Hunter with 15 and Richard Bishop with 12 the “Knights cruised to an easy win.
The “Knights” fourth and final game was against the whipping boys of the tournament, Holyhead. The north Wales boys were torn asunder by the Northants boys who charged out to a 24-two lead which they were never to relinquish. In the 40 plus point drubbing Adam Hunter was once more dominant with 18 points while Robert Gerrard and Chris Smith with 12 points apiece gave good support.
So an overall second place for the “Knights” in an exercise which coach, Barry Powell declared as , “Well worthwhile!” even without the services of guards Matthew Johnson and Carl Rowland. Powell was particularly pleased with the performance of Adam Hunter while the combination of Robert Gerrard and Richard Bishop on the perimeter was very effective.
THIS WEEKEND'S ACTIONThe “Knights” are back in action on Saturday evening against Notts “Nova” an a National League Midland Conference. That game is at Northampton School for Boys and tips off at half past seven In fact it’s a real Northants versus Notts weekend with the “Lords” Cadet Men also lining up against “Nova”. That match is at Northampton School for Boys as well tipping off at half past five. The Northants “Lightning” Junior Women meanwhile travel to the new Jesse Boot Basketball Centre in Nottingham for their encounter against “Nova” In fact no less than seven other county teams are in action this coming weekend making ten teams in all. The Under 14 and Under 15 Boys travel to Norwich and Cirencester for Passerelle Tournaments on Saturday while the “Mavericks” and “Tornadoes” Under 13 sides host Norwich in another Passerelle Tournament. On Sunday the Under 14 Girls make the short trip to Moulton for a Girls Passerelle Tournament while the Under 12 Boys and Girls make the longer trip to Thorne near Doncaster for friendly matches. |
Karen Goodrich (Administrator)
01604 238950
07702 263813John Collins (Coaching Co-ordinator)
01604 238950
07801 533151